Using a computer as server.

[ohheckyeah]

I work from home and am signed up with a WAH agency. I got an invitation to apply to allow an extra computer to be used as a server by a company in exchange for them paying my internet bill.

How would it work them using my computer as a server? It doesn't sound very secure for me to allow someone to do that.

Here are the details as posted in the ad:

Basically, you will provide remote business services support for one of the services we offer such as geo ranking reports. For this job, you'll need an extra computer that you do not currently use and you need to have DSL or cable internet for this. The remote support will be used exclusively for advertising or training purposes and the PC will need to be on 24/7 as it will essentially act as a server you are hosting for us. We will basically cover your cable internet bill in exchange or pay you $50 per month plus set up a DSL line that we will pay for directly (and you are welcome to use the Internet off that).

If you do not have an extra PC, we can provide one. Please let us know when applying.

Any opinions?

[ret5hd]

1. Frankly, it strikes me as a scam of some sort.

I don't exactly see where they are going with it, but it just smells fishy.

[ohheckyeah]

2. It does to me, too.

Thanks for your input.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. I agree with ret5hd

It sounds fishy to me, and who knows what sort of angle they're taking. Maybe hosting child porn or other illicit data on your network? Or, using it as a DDOS hub?

[Dead_Parrot]

4. Run away

If they are willing to pay for the system and the connection, the only thing you are providing is your name on the bill. I can think of several reasons why they would want someone else carrying the can, none of them good.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. Unless your ISP bill is very high...

...the security risk is not worth it.

Never let anyone you don't know have access to a PC with personal data or a PC that has client data for which you have signed an NDA. Although they are not asking for that, having a PC on the same subnet as another with proprietary data is still a risk due to the higher trust of devices on the same LAN.

If the ISP service is cable (in your name) you could be held responsible if these people do something involving civil liability or commit a crime.
If you elect the DSL option (in their name) you are not assured of bandwidth and could face losing your service if they change their mind, go bankrupt or just don't pay the bill.


In short, I'd run the other way.

[drm604]

6. While I agree that this sounds fishy

I can see a possibly legitimate reason for them wanting to do this.

They mention doing "geo ranking reports". Search engines, such as Google, return different search results depending on the geographic location of the searcher. Businesses doing SEO (search engine optimization) may want to know how their websites rank in search results in different locations. To determine this, they have to run searches from different locations.

This company would provide that functionality to them by placing servers in many different locations and running searches from those servers. Rather than renting space and paying staff in locations all over the world, they can do it by simply buying a server and paying for DSL in each location.

That said, I would be very cautious about this.

[RC]

7. "Computers" and Servers are not the same animal.

While all servers are computers, not all computers are servers. They are built and operate differently. Even the ROM, memory sticks and firmware are different.
While you can use a computer as a server, it will be quite slow compared to the same server operating system running on a real server.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. This outfit doesn't care. They just want a pc in your house.

And the difference between servers and pcs in terms of computing capacity these days is basically marketing hype. A server at this point is a pc with a shitty graphics card that might be attached to a large disk array.

The op should run away from a scam. Rule of thumb: no free lunch.

[ohheckyeah]

8. Thanks for the information

and your opinions. I couldn't think of any real good reason for this and I'm not sure why they invited me to interview for it except for the state I'm in. It was one on the list of states. There were other people who got the invite and had questions and I wanted to share this information with them.

They had thousands of applications - probably all from people even less computer savvy than I am. It stank of scam to me but I wanted input from more knowledgeable people than I. That would be you guys.